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Immigration Status Violations

Violating your immigration status (also commonly called "going out-of-status") while in the U.S. can have serious, long-lasting, and expensive consequences for a student. 

Termination of SEVIS Records
There are several reasons why an International Student Advisor might be required to terminate your SEVIS record.  These reasons include:

  • Failure to enroll in a full course of study by the SEVIS registration deadline
  • Dropping below a full course of study or withdrawing from all of your classes before receiving authorization from ISS
  • Enrolling in too many online classes
  • Being expelled or suspended
  • Working without authorization
  • Failing to report OPT employment
  • Accruing more than 90 days of unemployment while on OPT
  • Failing to report to ISS after initially arriving in the U.S.

Consequences of Being Terminated in SEVIS
If you are terminated in SEVIS, you:

  • Cannot work.  If you are currently employed on campus, you must quit your job.
  • Cannot do Curricular Practical Training (CPT)
  • Cannot do Optional Practical Training (OPT)
  • Cannot get a driver's license (or renew a driver's license) or obtain a Social Security Card
  • May not be accepted for transfer by another school
  • Can be subject to arrest or deportation
  • Can accrue illegal presence in the U.S.  If you have more than 180 days of unlawful presence in the U.S., you can be barred from re-entry for 3 years.  If you have more than one year of unlawful presence in the U.S., you can be barred for 10 years.
  • Must immediately leave the U.S. unless you apply for reinstatement.  There isn't a 30 or 60-day grace period to leave the U.S. after your SEVIS record is terminated.
  • May spend a lot of time and money to get back into status without any guarantee of success.  Students typically only have two options to get back into status:  1) Travel outside the United States and re-enter with a new I-20 and new SEVIS ID, or 2) Apply for reinstatement through USCIS, which can often take longer than one year for adjudication.  Both of these options have risks and are not guaranteed to work.

If you have questions or concerns about your immigration status, please contact International Student Services for assistance.